Sheet-delivery mechanism for printing-machines.



No. 690,638. M I Patented Jan. 7, I902.

, c. P. COTTRELL;

SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES? (Application filed 24,1901.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet .l.

"No; 690,633. Pafented m.- 7, I902.

. c. P. COTTRELL.

SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM FI IR PRINTING MACHINES.

(Application filed Aug. 24, 1901.)

(No Model.)

4 Shuts-Sheet 2. v

m: konms PETERS 00 PHoTauma, wuumoron, n. c

- 16.69am, If Piiehfdqan;1 902: v -C. P .COTTBELL.; sugar DELIVERYmzcnAmsu Fon PmuT|us mmn is-.

(Application filed Aug. 2'4, 1901.)

(lo Model.

No. 690,638. c. P. COTTBELL. i SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM FOB PRINTINGMACHINES.

(Application mad Aug. 24, 1901.)

4 Shaetd-Sheot 4..

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

CHARLES P. COTTRELL, OF WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR' TO C. B.COTTRELL & SONS COMPANY, OF STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT, AND NEW YORK, N.'Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SHEET-DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

SPEGIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,638, dated January7, 1902.

- Application'filed August 24,1901. Serial No. 73,151. kNo model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. COTTRELL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Westerly, in the county of Washington and State ofRhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement inSheet-Delivery Mechanism for Printing Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide in a convenient manner in aprinting-machine for the delivery of the printed sheets with either sideupward as may be desired; and to this end the-invention consists incertain novel combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed,including an oscillating fly-frame for the delivery of the sheets withtheir freshly-printed side's downward and endless chains and attachedgrippers for their delivery with their freshly-printed sides upward.

Figure 1 is a side view of parts of a tworevolution cylinderprinting-machine having applied to it for interchangeable use anoscillating fly delivery-frame and endless grippercarryingdelivery-chains according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalvertical sectional view showing the cylinder and both delivery devices.Figs. 2 2 and 2 are detail views of the fiy-frame. Fig. 3 is a viewtaken on the opposite side to Fig. l of parts of the machine. Fig. at isa transverse vertical section taken in the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa transverse vertical section taken approximately in the line 5 5 ofFig. 1; Fig. 6, a transverse vertical section taken approximately in theline 6 6 of'Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a side view of part of the endless-chaindelivery devices and parts of the carrying-tapes between theendlesschains and the impression-cylinder, Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 aredetail.

views which will be hereinafter explained.

A is the impression cylinder, which is mounted in the usual or in anysuitable manner in hearings on the main framing B of the machine. V

R is the receiving-board for the delivered printed sheets supported instands E E on the framing B at a level below the upper part of thecylinder A and at a distance in front thereof greater than the length ofthe sheets.

The cylinder A is fitted with the usual grippers (not shown) which takethe sheets to be printed from the feed-table C and from which theprinted sheets are stripped by the usual strippers a, said strippersguiding the sheets between the tape-rollers b c, the shafts b c of whichrun in hearings in brackets D, mounted on the journal-boxes g* of thecy1 inder-sha-ft g. Y

(1 represents carrying-tapes arranged between the cylinder and thereceiving-table and running on the rollers 12 and on rollers e on ashaft e, which is supported in the stands E. The tape-rollers b andtapes d derive motion from a gear f on the cylinder-shaft g through agear h on the roller-shaft b and an intermediate gear t', whichturns-freely on a fixed study, carried by one of the brackets D andwhich gears with f and h. The brackets D, stud j, and shaft 1) beingcarried by the boxes 9* of the cylinder-shaft, the gear '5 alwaysremains in gear with the gears f and h. The upper runs of the tapes (1travel in a forward direction'away from the cylinder. The gear h, whichruns constantly, is loose on the shaft 1), but is capable of engagementtherewith by means of a friction clutch-disk In, Figs. 2 and 4, which isfast on the shaft. The engagement of said shaft 1). with and itsdisengagement from said gear h is effected by a slight longitudinalmovement of said shaft in opposite directions to bring the friction-disk7c into or' out of contact with the gear h. This movement isprovided forby means of a grooved cam F (see Figs. 3 and 4) on the cam-shaftfG,which also carries the cam H for operating the fiy-frame, as will behereinafter described, the said shaft G making one revolution for eachimpression. This cam F operates through a short rockshaft Z, a rod m,and an elbow-lever n, which is forked at its upper end to embrace agrooved collar b on the shaft b, said rook-shaft working in fixedbearings Z on the main framing B and having one arm, Z which engageswith the groove of the cam F, and another arm, Z which is connected bythe rod m with the lower arm of the elbow-lever a, said lever working ona fixed fulcrum n on the framing B. The throw of the cam F and, thelengths of the arms Z Z of the rock-shaft Z and of the two arms of theelbow-lever a should be so proportioned that the longitudinal movementof the shaft I) should not be sufficient to displace the rollers Z) Z)from the rollers c c. It is obvious that the said longitudinal movementrequires to be extremely slight. The engagement of the shaft 1) with thegear h is also provided for by a spring 30, (see Fig. 4,) which isapplied between the collar b and the adjacent bearing of said shaft andwhich acts to press the friction-disk 7c in contact with the gear h.

I is the rock-shaft of the fly delivery-frame, and 0 the fly-fingersattached thereto. This fly delivery-frame, except as to the position ofthe rock-shaft and .the provision for detaching all the fingers togethertherefrom,

which will be hereinafter described, resembles fly-framcs commonly usedin printingmachines for delivering the printed sheets. The bearings forsaid rock-shaft in the stands E are situated atadistance forward of thecylinderAbeyond the forward tape-carrying rollers e, which rollers areat a distance from the cylinder greater than the length of the printedsheets. The fiy-fingers 0 are so spaced that they may intervene betweenthe carryingtapes d and their rollers e. The rock-shaft I and therest-bar 0, provided in the brackets D for the ends of the fly-fingers,are at such elevations that when the frame is thrown backward, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2,with the fingers resting on said bar 0, the fingerswill be below the upper runs of the tapes (1. The means for producingthe oscillating movement of the flyframe may be and are represented assubstantially like those commonly used in printingmachines,as I will nowbriefly describe. The rock-shaft I is furnished at one end with atoothed sector J, which gears with a toothed rack-harp, which derives alongitudinal reciprocating motion from the cam H, before mentioned, thesaid rack-bar being connected with one arm of an elbow-lever K, whichworks on a fulcrum q, fixed on the framing, and the other arm of whichis connected by a rod q with a lever L, which works on a fixed fulcrum gon the framing, the said lever L being provided with a roller (1 whichis kept in contact with the cam H by a spring q, applied between thelever L and a suitable fixed bearing. (Not shown.) The toothed rack onthe bar 1) is kept in gear with the toothed sector J by abearing-rollerp applied behind said bar on a stud 1J2, affixed to theframing.

For the purpose of removing all the flyfingers 0 together from therock-shaft I the said fingers are all attached by clamps of any suitablekind to a transverse rod 20, which is parallel with the rock-shaft anddetachably secured therein in any suitable manner-for example, thatillustrated by Figs. 2, 2", and 29, Fig. 2 being a plan view of therock-shaft I, Fig. 2 a plan of the fly-finger rod 20, with some of itsattached fingers 0, and Fig. 2 a transverse section of the rock-shaftwith the fiy-finger rod 20 secured therein. The rock shaft is cranked attwo points in.its length, as shown at 21 in Fig. 2, at a suiiicientdistance apart to receive the ends of the fingerrod 20 in angularrecesses 22, formed in the so-cranked parts. The ends of the finger-rodare squared or flattened to enter these recesses and are securedtherein, as shown in Fig. 2, by clamping-pieces 23, which, overlappingthe rod, are fastened to the rock-shaft by screws 24. It will beunderstood that by unscrewing the screws 2t and removing or turningaside the clamping-pieces 23 the finger-rod 20 may be removed with allthe flyfingers.

M is one of the two gripper-chains which carry the grippers s t and areso arranged above the receiving-table R that they may take the sheetsfrom the endless tapes d and deposit them on the said table with thelast-printed side upward. These chains being both alike and suchgripper-carrying chains being common in sheet-delivery apparatus, I havethought it sufficient to represent one of them. The said chains arecarried above the level of the tapes d on the sprocket-wheels N,whichturn on fixed studs 12, carried by the stands E, and on sprocketwheelsN, which turn on fixed studs 1), carried by the stands E, and betweenthe said sprocket-wheels N and those N the said chains are supported instraight guides P, carried by the stands E E. Said stands, chains, andguides are at a distance apart laterally greater than the width of thefly-frame, that the fingers 0 of the latter may pass be tween them. Thesprocketwheels N, on which the rearward portions of said chains run, area short distance in rear of the tapecarrying shaft 6 and rollers e. Forgiving motion to said chains the sprocket-wheels N have attached to themspur-gears Q, which gear with two spur-gears S on a shaft S,which turnsin bearings in the stands E and which has on one end a bevel-gear Sgearing with a bevel-gear u on an upright shaft 11., which works inbearings 20" on the outside of the framing B and stand E. This shaft ahas on its lower end a bevel-gear uiwhich gears with a bevel-gear awhich is carried by a spurgear a turning on a fixed stud a in a stand aon the lowerpart of the framing B. The spur-gear u gears with aspur-gear T, which is carried by a spur-gear T, turning on a fixed studT affixed to the framing B. The gear T gears with and is driven by agear U, Figs. 1 and 6, on the cam-shaft G, and so imparts motion throughthe gears T u" a o shaft 11., and gears u S to the sprocket-wheeldrivingshaft S.

The grippers s 25, hereinbefore mentioned as carried by the endlesschains, consist of any suitable number of members 5 and correspondingmembers i, which operate between the carrying-tapes d. The grippermembers 5 consist of jaws rigidly attached to a bar .9, which is rigidlyattached to the two carryingchains, and the members i are jaws fastenedon a spindle t, which is'pivoted into the carrying-chains and which isfurnished near one end with a tappett (see Fig.7 and the detail plan,Fig. 8, and back view, Fig. 11) for operation against stationary cams w'10, which are affixed to the sprocket-wheel studs 1; n for the purposeof openingthe grippers at the proper times to receive the printed sheetsfrom the tapes (1 and to release them for deposit on the table. Thegripper memberst are normally closed by coiled springs i (see Figs. 8and 11) on the spindle t, one end of said spring being fastened to thespindle and the other end to one of the chains. The gripper-jaws s areforked, as shown at 13 in Fig. 11', to project beyond theirgripping-faces 12, as shown in Figs. 7 and 11, over the sides of thejaws t, the edges of the projecting portions 13 constituting stops tothe printed ."sheets as they are carried forward by the 1 tapes (1 andpresented to the'grippers. Sheetstops are also provided on the fingers 0of p the fly-frame, as shown in the detail views,

Figs. 9 and 10, which are respectively a side view and a front view, thesaid'stops being slid over the said fingers and secured thereon bybinding-screws y, providing for their adjustment lengthwise on thefingers.

To explain further the operations of the two deliveries, I will firstsuppose that the fly-delivery is to be used for delivering the sheetswith the last-printed side downward. In this case the finger-bar 20,with its attached flyfingers, remains, of course, affiXed'to therockshaft I; but either the gripper-bar t, with its grippers 15, shouldbe removed from the chains M or the gears T T removed from the stud T Ifthe gripper-bar and grippers only be removed, the chains will runinoperatively; but if the said gears only be removed the chains shouldbe moved to bring the gripperbar and grippers to the position shown inFig. 2, in which position the grippers will remain stationary, thechain-driving mechanism being inoperative. For this operation of thefly-delivery the shaft 12, which drives the tapes, is disconnected fromthe cam F, which may be done by taking out the pin which connects therod m with the'rock-shaft arm Z leaving the said shaft '1) under thecontrol of the spring 30, which keeps the gear h con-' stantly coupledwith the shaft b bythe friction-disk k and the tapes constantly running.The printing-machine being then set in operation, each printed sheettaken on by the carrying-tapes d, which are then in motion, will becarried forward printed side upward over the fly-fingers, while thelatter are thrown back to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 until thefront edge strikes the stops as. The cam H then byits movement permitsthe fiyframe to be thrown forward by the action of the spring g on thelever L to turn over the sheet and deposit it on the table B. After thisdeposit of the sheet thefly frame is swung back by the action of the camH to its position of rest on the bar 0' ready for the reception ofanother sheet to be delivered on the table R in the same manner.

To. change from the use ofthe fly-delivery to the use of theendless-chain delivery for the delivery of the sheets with their printedside upward, the finger-rod 20, with the 'attached fly-fingers, isremoved from the fly rock-shaft I, and the connection between the camFand the shaft 1) is restored. If the grippers had been removed fromtheir carrying-chains M, they should now be replaced and the chains beso adjusted relatively to the impression cylinderand themechanism foroperating the tapes (1 that the grippers arrive in such position belowthe sprocketwheelsN (see Fig. 7) where they are opened by the cam 10just as the sheet carried by'the tapes has its front edge brought to thestops 13 on the gripper members s.' This adjustment of the chains may beefiectedby turning the shaft S" by a hand-crank or equivalent device,the gears T T being at the time removed from the stud T The latter gearshaving been replaced in gear with U and u, respectively, and themachinehaving been set in motion, each sheet taken from the cylinder 'onthe tapes d with i ts last-printed side upward is carried forward by thelatter till its front 7 edge comes in contact with the stops 13 of thegrippers, which are then held-open by the cam w, and at this'moment bythe action of the 'cam F the tape roller-shaft is disengaged from itsdriving-gear h and the movement of the tapes is arrested. Thegrippertappet t then immediately escaping from the cam 'w, the grippersclose on the sheet, which is then carried forward over the table R untilthe grippers arrive at the cam w, on striking which they open andliberate the sheet,which then drops to the table with the last-printedside upward. During the above-described operation of the endless-chaindelivery the fly rock-shaft I and its actuating mechanism continue inoperation without interfering with the endless-chain delivery.

0n referenceto Fig. 1 it will be seen that the chain-driving gears U andT areshown eccentric to their shafts. This eccentricity may not 'benecessary; but I consider it pref erable in order that the chains mayhave a slower motion at, the time of opening the grippers tov drop thesheets upon the receiv ing-table. It may also be seen on'referenee toFigs. 1 and 2 that'the tapes and the gripper-chains are represented witha downward inclination in a forward direction. I consider thisinclination desirable to facilitate the carrying forward of the sheets.I

What I claim as my invention is- 1'. In a printing-machine, thecombination of a rotaryimpression-cylinder, afiy deliveryframe, a chaindelivery-carrier consisting of chains and attached grippers, and tapescommon to said fly-frame and to said carrier for receiving the printedsheets from the cylinder and presenting them either to said fly-frame orsaid carrier, substantially as herein described.

2. In a printing-machine fitted with an endless-chain delivery deviceand a fly-delivery, the combination with the fly rock-shaft of a rod andattached fly-fingers detachably connected with said rock-shaft,substantially as herein described.

3. In a printing-machine, the combination of a rotaryimpression-cylinder, endless delivery-tapes arranged in front of saidcylinder for carrying the sheets forward therefrom, a receiving-table infront of said tapes, an endless-chain delivery-carrier also in front ofsaid tapes for receiving the sheets therefrom and depositing them onsaid table, an oscillating fiy -frame the rock-shaft of which is forwardof the tapes and the fingers of which are capable of swinging forwardbetween the tapes and backward between the chains of said carrier, andmeans for rendering said carrier inoperative during the operation of theprinting-machine with the fiy-delivery, substantially as hereindescribed.

4. In a printing-machine, the combination of a rotaryimpression-cylinder, a sheet-delivery device consisting of endlesschains and attached grippers and on which are sheetstops, anendless-tape carrier for carrying printed sheets from the cylinder tosaid delivery device, means for driving said endlesstape carrier, andmeans for disengaging said carrier from its driving mechanism on thearrival of the sheets at the stops on the delivery device, substantiallyas herein described.

5. In a printing-machine, the combination of a rotaryimpression-cylinder, a sheet-delivery device consisting of endlesschains and attached grippers, an endless-tape carrier for carryingprinted sheets from the cylinder to said carrier, and means for drivingsaid dolivery device at a varying speed which is reduced at the time ofthe presentation of the sheets by the tape-carrier to said deliverydevice, substantially as herein described.

6. In a printing-machine, the combination of a rotaryimpression-cylinder, a sheet-delivery device consisting of endlesschains and attached grippers, an endless-tape carrier for carryingprinted sheets from the cylinder to said carrier and stops on saidgrippers for arresting the sheets presented thereto by the endless-tapecarrier, substantially as set forth.

7. In a sheet-delivery mechanism for printing machines, the combinationof endless gripper-carrying chains and grippers consisting each of twojaws one of which is forked to overlap the sides of the other and form asheet-stop, substantially as herein described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 29th day of July,

